Sao Ohn Nyunt

Sao Ohn Nyunt (Burmese: စဝ်အုန်းညွန့်; also spelled Sao On Nuant) was a prominent Shan political figure in Burma (Myanmar) during the post-independence era. He served as the Saopha (hereditary ruler or prince) of Mongpawn, one of the Shan states.

He played a significant role in the negotiations leading up to Burmese independence, participating in the Panglong Agreement of 1947. This agreement was a crucial step in uniting the Shan, Kachin, and Chin people with Burma to form a unified nation. The Panglong Agreement promised these ethnic groups autonomy after independence, though this promise was never fully realized, contributing to ongoing ethnic tensions in the country.

Sao Ohn Nyunt was a strong advocate for Shan rights and autonomy within the Union of Burma. After Burma gained independence in 1948, he remained active in politics, working to represent the interests of the Shan people in the newly formed government. He held various political positions and was involved in discussions regarding the structure and governance of the country. He was known for his efforts to promote unity among the various ethnic groups in Burma and to find peaceful solutions to the country's political challenges.

His legacy is complex. He is remembered by some as a key figure in the early days of Burmese independence who strove to integrate the Shan states into the union. Others view him through the lens of the unfulfilled promises of the Panglong Agreement and the subsequent decades of conflict between the central government and ethnic armed groups, where the aspirations of increased autonomy for the Shan states were ultimately unmet.